Meet Our Team

Get to know us! We understand that in today's world it's not easy to let just anyone into your home, so we'd like to introduce ourselves. Simply click the links under each picture below to find out more about each member of our team.

Phil Nixon

Owner

Phil Nixon

After graduation from Texas High School in 1972, Phil Nixon went on to study water safety at Texarkana College, and later attended classes at Ocean Corporation Diving School in Houston, Texas. Phil began his career in the underwater construction industry as a diver for Taylor Diving Salvage, but later saw that he needed to pursue other options due to economic downturns in the oil industry at the time. It was important to him to find something he would love to do.

Phil read a flyer about locksmithing and thought it would be something he would enjoy. Security had always played a large role in his life, growing up as the son of a Bowie County sheriff’s deputy. He took all of the required courses, and began his career as a locksmith in 1978 at Rollins Safe and Lock in New Orleans, Louisiana. He later moved to Denver, Colorado and went to work as general manager for a locksmith supply company there, but missed the hands-on part of the business.

In 1990, Phil moved back home to Texarkana and started Advanced Locking Systems. To this day he looks forward to getting up and going to work every day. Phil thrives on providing safety and security to his customers and takes great satisfaction in the quality of his work.

In his off-time, Phil enjoys pursuing his hobbies, which include archaeology and photography. He has extensive knowledge of the Caddo Indians and has even worked with the State of Arkansas in excavations. Phil also enjoys flying Ultra Lite airplanes and was vice president of the Texarkana Ultra Lite Flyers for 2 of the 5 years that he was a member. His other hobbies include hunting, fishing, hand-loading, reloading and competition rifle shooting.

Phil has been married to Chantel Nixon, a realtor with Advantage Realty of Texarkana, for fifteen years. Together, they enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Steve Craigen

Locking Specialist

Steve Craigen

Steve Craigen began his locksmithing career in Houston, Texas in 1992. He moved to Northeast Texas in the early 90s, and came to Texarkana in 2003. Steve joined forces with Phil Nixon in 2008 and assisted in growing Advanced Locking Systems to one of the most well respected companies of its kind in the Four States area.

Steve takes his work seriously, and believes in staying up-to-date on the latest technologies and applications. He attends trade shows and has accumulated many hours of continuing education in all fields of locksmithing. This is Steve’s way of going above and beyond for his customers and being able to serve them with the best advice and options available to them.

When he’s not working, Steve enjoys spending time with family and friends. He also enjoys singing, and can be found from time to time belting out a tune or two on karaoke night.

Corporate logos for Von Duprin®, Norton®, Schlage®, Baldwin®, Kwikset®, Mul-T-Lock® Hayman®, American Security® and Strattec® are registered trademarks used by permission and are not owned by or associated with Advanced Locking Systems.